Quitting is always an option..

I think I've told myself a billion times, "Quitting is NOT an option, Mel!!" But really, it is! We might not call it quitting, because that just sounds so bad! We might call it something else, but we know what we're really doing. I know I get to the point that I want to quit. I get tired! I get lazy! I get bored! The last few months have been the toughest months for me. I haven't quit, but I sure have been dragging my feet! So I was thinking, what would happen if I just gave up? Because I'm the boss over myself, I really can just give up! No one's going to say anything to me if I quit, I've come so far, right?! If I quit, I'm only telling myself, "Giving up is ok!" I'll know that when things get really challenging, all I have to do is quit, walk away, be done! If I quit I'll never be able to say I hit my goal. I'll be able to say, "I got super close, I even saw the finish line!! But I just stopped right before I ran through the finish line." When my kids ask me how I felt when I got to my goal, I'll never be able to tell them. I know my thinking can be a bit overboard and I can be a bit of an over thinker ;) but weighing quitting vs. sticking with it and seeing it ALL the way through was something I had to do. I had to stop dragging my feet and start moving ahead again. I totally understand the feeling of being tired and drained of the process. I also understand the feeling of wanting something sooo bad and knowing that you just have to dig deep down inside yourself to grab whatever you can to push yourself there. There are times when others words, inspiring quotes and stories, new recipes, a really great new workout routines or even praying won't work. There are times when the only thing that works is just going! Just making yourself move forward! Just reminding yourself why you started this and that you aren't done until you're done. I think in those times when quitting is a very close decision for you.. and you push through even when you don't wanna.. WOW! The character building, the inner strength you get, the fact that you didn't pick the quitting option.. there's a lot more going on inside you than just losing weight and getting healthy. I think about life beyond weight loss and how the perseverance I have will effect the other challenges I face and journeys I will be on. Because if we can do this, if we can conquer this.. I believe that we can do anything!

Invest into yourself!

You know how it works; you have to make a deposit in order to get a return. You know how it goes.. we do for everyone else before we do for ourselves. In many situations that's the reason we don't do for ourselves, because we're tired and drained. I was thinking about this.. and the fact is, this shows that we do have it within ourselves to invest into ourselves. Look, we've been doing it for others for so long. We invest time into our friendships, we invest perseverance into our kids goals we invest our hearts into our spouses dreams. So we have the ability to invest, within us. But why don't we do it for ourselves. You know, the best thing you can give those you love is a better, healthier, more active "YOU!" Why not take some time for yourself and see what a little investment can do! Over the past year and half I've made some great investments into my life. I've taken some time for myself and it has paid off! I've invested in myself by taking time to exercise. I take time to journal my food. I write it down as a means of accountability and also the fact after a long crazy day, I really can't remember what I've eaten that day, so it helps keep me on track. I plan meals, so when I'm busy I make sure I have good, healthy foods in the house so I have something to grab on the run. And I have my groceries ready to be prepared for a meal instead of running through drive thru's at the last minute (not saying I don't ever do this, because there are times I do) I try not to let my time be taken by things that, in the end, won't really matter.   It takes time, YES!! There will always be reasons why we "don't have the time" so you just have to make the time! It's tough in the beginning to make changes, for me it was. But once you make the investments where you need to make them and teach your family the new things you're going to be implementing in your own life and possibly in theirs.. it will make for a better YOU! I just want to encourage you to not wait any longer. Make some deposits into your own life!

Anchors..

An anchor can be defined as; a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability,or security; mainstay.  Recently during one of my Weight Watcher classes my leader talked about anchors and how they can be a great asset to us during our journeys. She was meaning an anchor in a way of something you can carry around with you or keep on your refrigerator, or maybe even a voice mail that you can listen to when you feel tired of the process.  I thought I'd share with you some of my anchors and hopefully it will encourage you to either continue to hold on to your anchors or figure out what keeps you "anchored" during your journey. I have a few :) and since the class discussion I've come up with a few more. I would say one of mine is definitely old pictures of myself. When I see them they are a reminder of where I was and how far I've come. And also reminds me that I don't want to go back to living my life that way. I have a few songs that I would consider an anchor when I work out. You know, that certain song that pushes you through when you feel like you can't push anymore. I have little stickers that I earn for every 5 pounds loss so I keep those around as little reminders too. Since these last 10 pounds are being such a pain in my butt to lose, I started wearing a little red yarn bracelet with two knots in it. Each knot represents 5 pounds, what I have left to lose to reach my final goal! I've also kept a few of my old clothes and once in a while I'll bring those out and try them on! That never gets old!! :) The other morning, I was getting out of the shower and put a towel around me and I thought to myself.. Ok, at what point was I able to wrap a towel around my whole body?! Seriously, I wasn't always able to do that!! So I made a mental note of that.. and will definitely hold on to that as an anchor for myself. I have many people in my life that have been anchors to me as well! The cheers and support they give me have been a huge help along the way. I think it is important to have some things in your life that you can look at or touch or hear, that when you need it, you can grab a hold of it. The journey gets tiring and you reach many points that you just wanna give up. But really, you can't :) Giving up is so easy to do and you get nothing from it. You have to set it in your mind, that you refuse to sink! 

Mind over matter..

A friend of mine recently sent me this quote, and I wanted to share it with you!


" Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing, you have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
-- George S. Patton


I cannot help but love these words! I can remember making this decision when I first decided to run, to make up my mind and go with it! To not allow my legs to dictate how far I would run, but allow my mind to push me to my goal. Really, it's in anything we do. In any goal we are going after. In any decision we've made that we don't want to go back on. I have learned so much over the past 19 months, and learning how to never give up has been one of the most valuable lessons!! I believe you have to make the decision to never ever give up and once you make that decision, stick with it! The reason we fail over and over and over.... is because we give up so easily. We convince ourselves that whatever we are chasing is impossible to reach. We blame others around us or our circumstances but in reality the responsibility is ours. If we keep making excuses as to why we CAN'T do this or that, then we'll always be in the same place.. never moving ahead. When is a better time to make up your mind to do something? If you want something bad enough, you'll go after it! You allow nothing to stand in your way. If you do, then I don't believe you want it bad enough. Harsh? I only say that because I remember buying weight loss books, diet cook books, heck.. I had even joined Weight Watchers two other times before. I tried different diets and faithfully watched Biggest Loser to gain encouragement from. None of it worked, because I didn't want to do the work. I didn't want to make the sacrifices needed. I didn't make up my mind to actually do it. I don't believe that there's such a thing as "this was just my time" because I believe you have to choose to make it your time. It doesn't just happen. I know that those that are reading this and might be struggling with making up your mind, really are strong enough to do it! You just have to make the decision to and not quit! 

It's unbelievable how strong our minds are! 

The Power of Words..

So I've been on a bit of a rant lately. A few of my close friends have heard me talk about it (sorry ;) so I thought I'd gather a few of my thoughts on the issue and share it with you! I guess the issue sort of confuses me. It's not necessarily that people express their opinions but more so that their opinions weren't expressed when I was very overweight. Here's some things that I've been told. "Mel, are you healthy? You look like you need to gain weight!" "You look like you hit your weight goal 10 pounds ago!" "Yeah, it's easy to lose the weight, it's maintaining that's the hardest part. Most people can't maintain it." "I bet you are hungry!!" Now, I haven't been told these things often, but I have been told these things and they've all been said to me in public with others around, never in private. I have a friend that lost a large amount of weight and she said that someone asked her if she was sick and if she had cancer. I do understand the shock that comes with seeing someone after they've lost a great amount of weight, which is totally understandable. And I also understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion and even entitled to speak their opinion. But here's my issue.. I just don't understand, when I really was unhealthy and borderline diabetic, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and very well on my way to an early death, why no one confronted me with things like, "Hey Mel, you look about 100 pounds past your goal weight." "Are you even healthy? You look like you need to lose some weight!" Honestly that would've been the time to confront me on health issues. So to me, it seems like a double standard and I just don't understand it. Why address someone in one circumstance and not the other? Maybe I'm ranting, but really this whole subject confuses me. Have any of you, my readers, experienced these things? Maybe you're not on a weight loss journey but maybe on another type of journey. I will admit, the words can get to me if I allow them too. I have had some close friends of mine tell me if I'm comfortable with who I am then don't worry about it. And I agree with that! But it can be easier said than done, especially if you're still getting comfortable in your "new skin." I guess it comes down to this, the words spoken to us only have as much power as we allow them to have. If I dwell on them and allow them to dictate the rest of my journey then it is my fault. But if I allow them to roll off my shoulders and not allow them to sink in, then they are just words... zero power!  I've learned that I don't have to defend myself to others. And there will always be critics in your life.  On the other side of this.. it's a nice reminder to speak words of encouragement to others. Push others to move forward and to keep going after their goals!! Let your words be words that others want to hold on to!
Thanks for reading :-)

"99 Days Until Summer!!!!"

You read the title and you may have one of a few reactions. One being, "YAY!!! I'm soooo ready for summertime!!" Another being, "WHAT?!!! How did that happen?! I really should start my diet and exercise routine!!" I was perusing facebook today and ran across a friend of mine's, Darlene Osborne, facebook status update. This is what it read, "Dang (I did change that first word for my sensitive readers ;)  it! My friend posted today that there are 100 days until summer! I've been skipping going to the gym lately because it's been so busy around here. I was debating going today because I NEED to go and NEED to get back into a solid 4-6 times/week routine. Now I have to go for sure! Crap! 100 days? Really?" I instantly took this as a challenge! I've been being kinda relaxed on my journey I'm on. Letting little things slip here and there. I'm sure this is quite normal, but the reality of it is, if I keep being so relaxed it might take me forever to get to my final goal. I've also been calling it, "My final leg of THIS race" because I know it never really ends. Do you have something you'd like to accomplish by the first day of summer? To be exact it's Thursday, June 21st :) Maybe you're doing great and on your way! Maybe you're behaving like me.. sorta relaxed. Maybe you haven't even started that New Years Resolution yet?! I have decided to take advantage of the next 99 days. I took some time to think about what I'd like to accomplish. Here are some things I'm going to do. And some will be broken up in smaller goals because even 99 days away can seem a bit overwhelming to me. So first off, I WILL meet my final goal within the 99 days. My goal is to meet it within the next 30 days. I'm being reasonable here and even giving myself some cushion. I have a little over 7 pounds to go until I hit the final goal. After that, I need to maintain my weight for 6 weeks to become a lifetime Weight Watcher Member, which means I no longer have to give them my money! I can sit in that seat for free!! So within the next 99 days, I have a goal to become a lifetime member. By the end of the 99 days I want to be able to run 7 miles, non stop. I hope to be running 10 miles by fall. I will probably be a dork and make a chart, but that helps keep me on track and it gives me something to look at everyday so I can see how far I've come and how close I am to the end. What about you? Do you think you can set some goals, big or small, for the next 99 days? June 21st will come no matter what! You have the opportunity to make a difference in your own life between now and then! I hope you take some time, set some goals and refocus on what's ahead of you! You really can do it!!! :)
Thanks for reading!!!! 
Let me know if you set some "99 day goals!" We could all go out and celebrate our accomplishments together!

Check me out!!

You know that feeling you get inside when you do something that makes you feel accomplished? What a great feeling, huh! I've been thinking a lot about those feelings. It's like a little spark, or big spark, that goes off inside of you and makes you feel like, "Hey!! Maybe I really can do this!!" "Maybe this isn't as impossible as I thought it was going to be!" Sometimes it's those sparks that keep us going when we don't necessarily feel like going anymore. It's nice to remind ourselves how far we've come rather than how far we have to go. For me personally, I get so much enjoyment out of seeing someone meet a goal or reach a dream in their life. Actually, I LOVE it! There's a lady that joined my Weight Watcher class about a month ago and she's been doing a great job! But last week she walks into class and she looked different. She had makeup on, dressed up a bit and had her hair fixed.. and she had a big smile on her face! That night when we celebrated what she had lost that week our WW leader asked her what has changed so far? And the lady said, "I have make up on! I can't remember the last time I wore make up!!" I wanted to cry tears of happiness for her! Not because she was wearing make up, but because she felt accomplished and strong! You can tell how she was feeling on the inside because her confidence on the outside was showing it off!! It's those moments, those sparks, that we can hold on to. When you lose those first 9-10 pounds. When you can fit into a pair of jeans that you were working hard to fit in. When you run your first mile! When you can go on vacation and not come back with a weight gain (I just did that!!) When you reach a milestone in your workout that you were pushing yourself to get to! There are so many things that can keep us moving along!! It's not about the BIG goals we reach, yes those happen, but it's those little ones that we can reach each month. Those keep us going! I just want to remind you of those sparks. I don't want you to forget how great reaching a small goal can make you feel! How when you look in the mirror and the smile reflecting back at you is more confident than ever! Be proud of yourself!! I am :)